Drawing on unpublished documents and archival materials, Quill presents a historical survey of the modern liturgical movement with a detailed analysis of its theological and practical impact on 20th-century American Lutheranism. Quill explores the Lutheran debate, which revolves around the concept of a eucharistic prayer. In his liturgical reforms, Luther rejected the eucharistic prayer as found in the canon of the mass. Quill demonstrates that it is possible to create a eucharistic prayer which complements Lutheran eucharistic theology. Since American Lutheran liturgies and hymnals will soon undergo revision, the issues addressed will contribute to the anticipated debates and appeal to pastors, church musicians, seminary students, and students of liturgy.